Maui workshop June 12-13, 2015

"Creative agroforestry for food production in home, farm, and community landscapes"

The art of agroforestry is experiencing a renaissance in Hawai‘i due to our newfound passion for eating local food that is grown sustainably. Drawing upon the long traditions of agroforestry in the Pacific, a new workshop, “Creative Agroforestry for Food Production in Home, Farm, and Community Landscapes” will be presented on Maui June 12-13 (also Kona June 20-21 and O’ahu June 27-28). The workshop brings together agroforestry expertise from around Hawai‘i to offer participants an introduction to best practices in agroforestry or enhance their skills in establishing and maintaining a custom-designed agroforestry landscape. 

Dr. Harley Manner, a pioneer of agroforestry science in the Pacific Islands, will summarize his 40 years of experience of sustainable agricultural systems in the Pacific. Craig Elevitch of Agroforestry Net will present Pacific Island agroforestry landscapes as models for abundant, low-input food systems. Seth Raabe of Mahele Farm will discuss his experiences utilizing disturbance and local resources in tropical agroforestry. Natural methods for establishing and maintaining food-producing agroforestry landscapes will be presented by Tom Baldwin. How risks of pests and diseases can be reduced in diverse agricultural systems will be presented by Dr. Hector Valenzuela of UH Manoa. Dr. Amjad Ahmad, also from UH Manoa, will present recent research about how locally available materials can enhance soil function, thereby replacing imported soil inputs. Finally, Ranae Ganske-Cerizo of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service will explain federal assistance programs that can be used in association with planning and implementing agroforestry systems. 

Field tours on the second day of the workshop will highlight production agroforestry on a working farm, pioneering and succession strategies, a diverse fruit orchard, and agroforestry regeneration of degraded land. The workshop is recommended for landscapers, nursery growers, agricultural professionals, farmers, ranchers, homeowners, agricultural extension, community planners, and community development organizers. The workshop is sponsored by Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education and organized by Sustainable Living Institute of Maui in collaboration with Hawaii Homegrown Food Network. 

Recommended participants: Everyone interested in sustainable food-producing landscapes: Farmers, ranchers, and homeowners, landscapers, agricultural professionals, agricultural extension, community planners, and everyone working with agriculture, urban beautification, conservation, and human nutrition.

Registration: Early registration is $75 by Saturday, June 6, and $100 thereafter. Please register early, as space is limited.

A local vegetarian lunch will be provided on Friday, June 12. Participants will receive a copy of the new 320-page book Agroforestry Landscapes for Pacific Islands: Creating abundant and resilient food systems by Craig Elevitch (a $60 value).

Register for the workshop through EventBrite. 

REGISTER for the MAUI workshop 

MAUI workshop agenda (subject to adjustments)

Sponsors

The workshops are presented by Hawai‘i Homegrown Food Network and Agroforestry Net with sponsorship of the USDA Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program in collaboration with Sustainable Living Institute of Maui and Maui Community College.